Machine vise having base-clamping screw and nut assembly for sectional movable jaws



1954 s. J. RZEPELA 2,667,799

MACHINE VISE HAVING BASE-CLAMPING SCREW AND NUT ASSEMBLY FOR SECTIONAL MOVABLE JAWS Filed Oct. 9, 1952. 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J0 JJ EEEMEEB J7 J5 J6 10 '2 .INVENTOR. Za

1954 s. .1. RZEPELA 2,667,799

MACHINE VISE HAVING BASE-CLAMPING SCREW AND NUT ASSEMBLY FOR SECTIONAL MOVABLE JAWS Filed Oct. 9, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 AAA/\MAAMW IN VEN TOR.

$50172 ze'yffifzeyaeza Patented Feb. 2, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MACHINE VISE HAVING BASE-CLAMPING SCREW AND NUT ASSEMBLY FOR SEC- TIONAL MOVABLE JAWS 7 Claims.

This invention relates to a new and improved vise for use primarily as a work holder on a milling machine, planer, shaper, drill press, jig borer or other machine, although it could well be used also on a work bench.

In performing repeat operations on workpieces of the same size and shape while said work-pieces are successively held in a vise, it is important that the vise be quickly operable both for clamping each work-piece and for releasing it in readiness for the next work-piece. It is also essential that speed of operation be not permitted to result in insecure holding of the work-pieces. The invention is designed to supply these needs in a simple and expeditious manner.

The improved vise embodies a fixed jaw and a movable jaw adjustable toward and from said fixed jaw, and a further object of the invention is to construct said movable jaw from two sections uniquely associated with each other, one of said sections being a work-engaging section and the other being a carrier for mounting said workengaging section at any required position, the actual work clamping being produced by adjustment of the work-engaging section upon the carrier section. Thus, after proper setting of the carrier section, it may remain in set position while successively holding a plurality of workpieces upon which repeat operations are being performed, and the actual gripping and release of each work-piece may be quickly and easily effected by movement of the work-engaging section upon said carrier section.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel construction in which a threaded nut cooperates with a cam to effect the work-clamping movement of the work-engaging jaw section.

Yet another object is to provide a novel construction in which the above mentioned nut is threaded upon a set screw constituting a part of the means for holding the carrier section of the movable jaw in set position, obviating the necessity of an additional threaded member for coaction with said nut.

A further object is to provide a construction in which spring action moves the work-engaging jaw section to released position as the aforesaid nut is released.

A still further object is to provide a relatively simple and inexpensive yet a highly practical construction which will well perform all required duties and will be extremely rugged and durable.

With the above and other objects in view that will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings and claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing one form of the invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view on line 3-3 of Figure 2, showing the work-engaging section of the movable jaw engaged with a workpiece;

Figure 4 is a similar view on line 4-4 of Figure '2, showing the work-engaging jaw section released;

Figure 5 is a transverse sectiona1 View Online 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a top plan view showing a different form of construction;

Figures 7 and 8 are longitudinal sectional views on lines l'! and 88 of Figure 6, and

Figure 9 is an elevation of the slide block through which the screws of Figure 7 are threaded, part of the base being shown in broken lines in this View.

The form of construction shown in Figures 1 to 5 will first be described. In these views a base I 0 is shown which may be mounted on a machine or a work bench in any appropriate manner. This base is provided with a fixed jaw I l at one end and is formed with a longitudinal groove 12 extending into close proximity with said fixed jaw H. The groove l2 opens through the top of the base I0 and has a generally cylindrical form in transverse section as seen in Figure 5, providing said groove with overhanging side walls I3. A cylindrical slide block [4 is slidably received in the groove I2 and is formed with two openings 15 and M5. A relatively short set screw I1 is threaded through the opening I5, and a longer set screw I8 is threaded through the opening I6, said screws having sockets IS in their upper ends to receive a wrench for tightening and loosening said screws. When these screws are tightened, their lower ends abut the bottom of the groove 12, as seen in Figures 3 and 5, thereby holding the slide block 4 tightly against the overhanging walls 13 and holding said block against sliding in said groove l2. y

A lower movable jaw section 20 rests slidably upon the base It over the block l4 and is formed with openings 2| through which the set screws l1 and i8 extend with clearance. The section 20 is in the form of a generally rectangular block but the top of this block is provided with two inclined cams 2 2 and 23, the inclined surfaces of which of corresponding shape; ,section 28a is provided with a single inclined are in parallel planes extending transversely of the base 10.

An upper movable jaw section 24 is carried by the lower section 29. The lower side of this upper section 24 is formed with two inclined cams 25 and 26. The cam 25 rests on the cam 22 of the lower section 20, and the cam 26 rests on the bani 23 ofsaid lower'section 20; Thus, downward forcing of the jaw section 24 will result in camming of said section toward the fixed jaw II, and vice versa. provided to shift the jaw section 24 in releasing, direction, the two sections,zll -and -zebeing recessed at 28 (Figure 4) to receive said springs.

The jaw section 24 is formed with a slot 29 through which the set screw is extends-and a nut 30 and washer 3! are provided on the upper end of said set screw iii. A' nut'32and washer 33 are also provided on the upper end of theset screw I1.

To adju-stthe-two movable jaw sections 26 and 24 as a unit, the two nuts 3!! and 22 are loosened and the two set screws i? and i8 are also'loosened, whereupon the movable jawniay be slid to any desired position. Tightening of the two set screws I? and i8 and the one nut 32 will'then tightly clamp the section at. in the selected set position. Theother nut 30 is left loose until the work-piece W is to be clamped, and the springs 21 will .hold the upper jaw section 2:3 in released position (Figurel) as long as said'nut Stremains loose, After positioning of the workpiece W, this nut 36 is tightened, thereby causing 'caniming of the jaw section 24 downwardly and inwardly to slidably hold said work-piece W'against' the base (9 and the fixed jaw ii. When the required operation has been performed on thework piece, mereloosen'ing of the nut will cause the jaw section E4 to be spring-moved to" released position, permitting" quick removal .of. said work pieceand'insertion of'the next.

To prevent pivotal movement of the upper jaw section 2d about the screw :8, said section is provided with side flanges 34' which slidably straddlethe lower section 29, as seen'in'Figures '1 and 5.

A construction very similar to that shown in Figures l'to 5' is'disclosed in'F-igures etc 91 The groove" IZ'af of the base lea, however, is of T- shap'e'd cross section and the slide block i412" is Also, the lower jaw Springs 2'1 are cam 22a; and theupper section 24a has a single cam 25a cocperable with said cam 22a. Also, the two sectionsisaand 24aare slidably dove-tailed together asflseen at 35. Otherwise; the construction shown in Figures 6 to!) is practically identic'alwith that of Figures 1 to'5and requires no further explanation.

From the foregoing and the accompanying drawings it will be seen that novel and advantageous construction has been provided for carrying out the desired ends. However, it is to be understood that variationsmay be-made within the scope of the invention. Also, the device isrnotrestricted to use in a horizontal'position but may occupy any of various positions accordingt'o the uses to which it is to be put.

I claim: 1 A vise comprising abase having a fixed aw, said base having a groove in its upper side slide block to abut the bottom of said groove when tightened, therebyforcing said guide block against said overhanging side walls, said set screw projecting above said base, a lower movable jaw section resting slidably upon said base and having an opening through which said set screw extends with clearance, the upper side of said lower section being provided with an inclined cam, an upper movable jaw section having a slotthrou'gh which saidfse't screw passes, said upper section having a cam cooperable with the aforesaid cam to cause movement of said upper section toward said fixed jaw when said upper section is forced toward said base, and a nut threaded on'the upper end of said set screw for forcing sa-idu-pper section toward said base.

2. A structure as specified in claim 1; together with spring means acting on said upper section and reacting on said lower section for moving said upper section in releasing direction when said nut is loosened.

3. A structure as specified in claim 1; together with-a second-set screw threaded through said slide block to abut said bottom of said groove when tightened, said lower section having an opening. through which said second set screw extends with clearance, and a second nut threaded on the upper end of said second set screw for coaction with the latter in clamping said lower section to said base.

4. A vise comprising a'base having. a fixed jaw, said base having a groove in its upper side and extending toward said fixed jaw, said groove having, overhanging side walls, a slide block in saidgroove, a set screw threaded through said slide. block to abut the bottom of saidgroove when tightened, thereby forcing said guide block against said overhanging side walls, said set screw projecting. above said base, a lower movable jaw section resting slidably upon said base and havingan opening through which said set screw extends with clearance, the upper. side of said. lower section being provided with an inclinedcam, a nut threaded on the upper end ofsaid set'screwfm coaction therewith in clampin'g said lower section againstsaidbase, an upper movable jaw section havinga cam atiits lower side resting on said cam of said lower section toca'use movement of said uppersection toward said'fixed jaw when said upper section isforced toward said base; and manually operable means i'or'forcing said upper section toward said base. 5. A vise as in claim 4, wherein the upper section. has parallel side flanges slidably straddling said lower section.

- screw projecting above said base, a lowermovable'jaw section resting slidably upon said base and having an opening through which said set screw extends with clearance, the upper side of said lower section being provided with an inclined cam, a nut threaded on the upper end of said. set screw for coaction therewith in clamping said lower section against said base, an upper movable jaw section having a cam at its lower side resting on said cam of said lower section to-c'a'use movement of said upper section toward said fixe'd jaw when said upper section is forced 5 toward said base, and wrench operated threaded Number means for forcing said upper section toward said 1,067,902 base. 1,370,683 STANLEY J. RZEPELA. 1,751,329 0 2,350,585 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Number Name Date 93 593,681 Obernesser Nov. 16, 1897 9 993 1,060,980 Hammann May 0, 1913 Name Date Ebert July 22, 1913 Deater Mar. 8, 1921 Hancock Mar. 18, 1930 Carpenter June 6, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Jan. 23, 1903 Switzerland June 2, 1919 

